EOTC: The Living Nightmare

[Norgarth]

Reggie briefly closes his eyes as he fights the urge to facepalm at Hughe's request.

"Well, we're not doing any good out standing around out here. Let's head back to town. If we see one of these things, we'll gang up on it, hit it from behind when it moves towards one of us, like wolves wearing down a stag."

He tries to recall if his dad mentioned where he was planning to focus on clearing first. If he's unsure, he'll aim for his house first.

Also once Hughe and Ryan start up the ATV again,Reggie will use the noise to mask his voice as he tells Cal, Jack, and Mazur, "Let's keep mum about knowing who's in the shiny powerarmour, we don't want to let slip anything that could get Shep in trouble."

[Chaser1]

Reggie briefly closes his eyes as he fights the urge to facepalm at Hughe's request. "Well, we're not doing any good out standing around out here. Let's head back to town. If we see one of these things, we'll gang up on it, hit it from behind when it moves towards one of us, like wolves wearing down a stag."

He tries to recall if his dad mentioned where he was planning to focus on clearing first.Yet, he's unsure so he decides on heading to the house. As Hughe and Ryan start up the ATV again, Reggie uses the noise to mask his voice as he tells Cal, Jack, and Mazur, "Let's keep mum about knowing who's in the shiny power armor, we don't want to let slip anything that could get Shep in trouble."

Hughe shouts above the noise of the ATV, "Going back to town is absolute suicide."

Ryan nods, "He's not joking."

A few louder gunshots are heard from the west end of town. Moments later, the two power armors, one silver, one black, rise over the rooftops and fly off to the west, towards Reggie's dad's small farm.

With that, and Reggie's lead, the group slowly heads that way. Four of the faster undead appear from the edge of town and start pursuing. Reggie notices right away, determining that it will take them just under a minute to reach the group unless they pick up speed.

[Norgarth]

As the group begins to circle around the town to reach his family's farm, Reggie keeps an eye on the pursuing undead, trying to determine if they are all moving at the same speed or not. The groups odds would be much better if they can string out the zombies some.

Either way, they should probably angle even farther from the town. Things will be hard enough when they catch up without more of them stumbling out of town to join in.

Reggie will urge the horses to a trot. They won't be able to keep it up for long carrying double, but it'll give us a bit more time to work with. If one or two of the zombies are slower (due to leg injuries for example), then this will help spread them out as well

The zombies seem pretty simple minded, may be they can find some sort of difficult or defensive terrain we can use to our advantage.

[Chaser1]

As the group circles around the town to reach his family's farm, Reggie keeps an eye on the pursuing undead, trying to determine if they are all moving at the same speed or not. The group's odds would be much better if they can string out the zombies some. After a few moments, he finds that none of them are moving the same speed, but still very fast for a human. Either way, they should probably angle even farther from the town. Things will be hard enough when they catch up without more of them stumbling out of town to join in.

Reggie urges the horses to a trot. They won't be able to keep it up for long carrying double, but it'll give them a bit more time to work with. If one or two of the zombies are slower (due to leg injuries for example), then this will help spread them out as well. The zombies seem pretty simple minded, maybe they can find some sort of difficult or defensive terrain we can use to our advantage.

As Reg is trying to formulate a plan, Hughe shouts out, "You guys go on ahead! Ryan and I will keep these freaks busy!" He speeds the ATV back straight towards the pursuing zombies, spinning circles around them to round them up and then slowly heads towards Lake Crenshaw, drawing them away from town.

Reggie, Mazur, Jack and Cal carry on towards town. Dead zombies dot the ground here and there, obvious victims of the power armor intervention.

"Um, I'm a bit concerned about Ryan," Mazur finally says.

"Ryan's a hothead, but clever under pressure." Jack replies.

"Oh that's rich coming from you," Mazur adds.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jack asks, confused.

Mazur sighs, "Exactly..."

"Wow, guys. A bit of cooperation and inter-group support would be just great... yeah..." Cal tries to mediate.

"What is this? Therapy?" Mazur grumbles.

"Hey shorty, he's trying to help," Jack grunts, "Reggie, how far to your place?"

OOC: About two minutes at the current pace.

[Norgarth]

As Hughe drives off to distract the zombies, Reggie thinks to himself 'I hope he keeps an eye on his fuel gauge.'

"Yeah, I'm sorta worried about them too. My house is only a couple minutes away, we should be there soon."

'And hopefully,' he thinks, 'Dad'll be okay.'

[Chaser1]

As Hughe drives off to distract the zombies, Reggie thinks to himself oO(I hope he keeps an eye on his fuel gauge)Oo "Yeah, I'm sorta worried about them too. My house is only a couple minutes away, we should be there soon," as he thinks oO(And hopefully. Dad'll be okay)Oo

Even the fastest of the undead begin falling behind to the gallop of the horses. Above the Harper farm, a lone SAMAS power armor is high above the treetops, observing them approach.

"And for your information, Jack, I'm altitude impaired. I still have time to grow." Mazur shoots Jack a sidelong disapproving look.

"Yup," Jack says as he lips quiver as tries everything that he can to keep from cracking a smile, let alone laugh.

"Are we going to have a problem?" Cal asks, pointing towards the power armor.

[Norgarth]

Looking up at the flying figure, Reggie responds "I really hope not, there's not much we can do if they do decide to be hostile."

Reggie does slow the horses' pace down, no need to exhaust them. Hopefully a slower approach will avoid a reaction from the power armour as well.

[Chaser1]

Looking up at the flying figure, Reggie responds, "I really hope not, there's not much we can do if they do decide to be hostile." Reggie does slow the horses' pace down, no need to exhaust them. Hopefully a slower approach will avoid a reaction from the power armor as well.

Eventually, the black husky skeletal power armor lands nearby and walks over, trying not to spook the horses. It holds up its hands, trying to show that it's a friend. The loudspeaker crackles to life, "Hello. My name's Sgt. Williams of the Coalition States. Lt. Colonel Daniels sent me to escort you folks to a farm outside of town. It looks as though you guys are already headed that way." He begins walking beside the horses, which seem very calm in the presence of the ten foot tall power armor. "My orders are to keep you guys safe till we get there. Who speaks for you four?"

At that moment, Reggie notices that Shep's power armor is in the sky signaling the Sergeant. Jack points up as he turns to look at Shep giving something similar to a thumbs up.

"He needs us to hurry. Let's get a move on folks!" the Sergeant encourages.

[Norgarth]

* "Hello. My name's Sgt. Williams of the Coalition States. Lt. Colonel Daniels sent me to escort you folks to a farm outside of town. It looks as though you guys are already headed that way."

"Thank you, Sargent Williams. That's my family's farm, we're hoping to find my dad there, he's the sheriff."

Reggie will urge the horse back to a higher pace, quietly telling them "you'll be able to rest a bit soon."

[Chaser1]

"Thank you, Sargent Williams. That's my family's farm, we're hoping to find my dad there, he's the sheriff." Reggie urges the horses back to a higher pace, quietly telling them, "You'll be able to rest a bit soon."

The group crosses a bridge with some freshly created graves and blood all over the far side of the bridge. Shep has long disappeared behind the trees in front of the farm.

"That's foreboding," Mazur comments, staring at the gore on the ground.

"I try not too look," Jack replies.

"Oh, you'll get used to it by the end of the day, Jack," Mazur adds.

"That's what I'm afraid of..."

Upon approaching the farmhouse and barn and pasture, the group finds a few dozen people getting the old family hay wagon setup to transport the slower individuals. Shep is already waving the horses over.

OOC: Move responses over to EotC: The Living Nightmare - Shep